The Obama of 1995

This is a common Marxist misconception – the idea that wealth and power are innately intertwined. In America, everyone’s vote counts the same. Yes, we have to be wary of crony capitalism – or technically, corporatism – because there are those who can be easily bought and paid for by political friends, including in President Obama case the public sector unions. But the laws are generally written neutrally here, and it is not the government’s job to pick winners and losers. All the countries Obama spent time in as a child had large, overbearing governments. Instead of learning that inequality and corruption are connected to big government, Obama instead figured that corruption is linked to inequality. Alleviate inequality, alleviate corruption.

Does this matter? Of course. The same logic Barack Obama used back in 1995 is the logic President Obama utilizes today in stumping for greater “fairness.” He is incredibly consistent in his ideology. Which shows that he’s an ideologue rather than a pragmatist.

This is why it’s important to continue to vet President Obama’s past given the fact that he has spent an inordinate amount of time campaigning as a pragmatist. It’s clear from his past that he is an ideologue, with deeply-held beliefs about income redistribution and race, and the meanness of typical Americans. That’s worth knowing, because it will certainly manifest in the policy he implements.

and be sure and read everything by Jack Cashill in the American Thinker, a conservative website with REAL courage. Diane West in AT suggests looking at the birth certificate issue. Another woman of courage.

(It's Breitbart.com that is lacking in courage with their self-important "vetting" not this one)

Gunner57

Hey Ben, you say Obama doesn't have any citizenship problems? Why don't you pack ypur bags and go home you coward.

joy52

An ideologue and probably a not very smart one who recycled speeches. I'm guessing there is more than one reason why nothing is available from the college days.

Steve Chavez

Remember the lines to get whatever was available in the old Soviet Union? All the RATION CARDS? Soup lines?

"When the Wall fell, we cheered, they cried. When the Twins fell, we cried, they cheered." "They" are OUR AMERICANS who loved the Soviet Union more than their own country. "They" were in SOVIET KGB AND CPUSA FUNDED FRONTS and Obama, and his "Circle of Communists" that surround him, were in those fronts too! "THEY" were the most bitter of all the world's Communists except for KGB die-hards like Putin, a man who Obama is more friendly with than Nethanayu!

OBAMA, and his "Circle of Communists" are creating the condition for the downfall of the United $tates as REVENGE for the downfall of their beloved Iron Curtain! They want an even world playing field just like when 1940 AMERICANS GAVE THE SOVIETS NUCLEAR SECRETS SO THEY COULD MAKE THEM TOO AS A BALANCE!

Schlomotion

"This is a common Marxist misconception – the idea that wealth and power are innately intertwined."

Someone has not read his Georg Simmel.

Wealth is the basis of political power.

intrcptr2

I've not read Simmel, but you are half-right.
Previous to the American Experiment, this is undoubtedly true. This distinction is what has made America unique in history. I would suggest though that Ben's take on Marx is accurate in that Marx assuredly argued that the two were inextricable; an analysis utterly devoid of any consciousness of 19th Century American economics.

It is our descent back to such base dynamics which will prove our doom.

clarespark

To Schlomotion: those who control the means of production are powerful. It is true that wealth in itself may contribute to political campaigns, but as to controlling the minds of the populace, that is another matter entirely. You sound like a populist, not a social analyst. See http://clarespark.com/2009/12/16/perceptions-of-t…. America is a conflicted country where conflicts go way beyond rich versus poor. Poor parenting can determine failure in the life of the child.

intrcptr2

clarespark,
Your quote of Marx demonstrates your lack of insight into his thoughts. He was wrong when he defined the "means of production" as the lynchpin of economics. He did not foresee, accurately, the baseless form of currency we have today. It is those who control the "means of exchange" who manage the world economy.

You are correct about bad parenting. But what happens when the state encourages, and pays for, it? And further, what of the schools? Lenin was quite clear on his plans for the children.

clarespark

As I said, the previous comment was populist. Populism is not the same as Marxism. Anyway, as historians and citizens, should we not be dogmatic, but open-minded, mapping all conflict and contending ideologies? Do you agree that J. A. Hobson that the international Jew controls the planet? He had a great effect on Lenin's theory of imperialism, whereas Marx expected socialism to arise in the advanced industrial countries, with an educated working class, attuned to their interests. It was utopian, but not stupid.

Zinnia2

according to those investigating for the Sheriff – it's the FTC threatening the media if they even think about mentioning the eligibility issue – someone has to get some courage here – the US Constitution is Still the law of the land…

americanadvocate

" WE THE PEOPLE " KNOW FULL WELL THAT LEFTWING LIBERALS HAVE SOMETHING PATHETICALLY WRONG IN THE TINY BRAIN THEY USED TO HAVE . WHAT IS MOST PUZZLING IS THAT MANY OF THE VERY WEALTHY ARE LIBERALS . WHAT COULD THEY POSSIBLY GAIN ??????? THEY ACTUALLY STAND TO LOSE MUCH MORE THAN THE POOR FOLKS IF AMERICA HAD A SOCIALISTIC ( COMMUNIST ) TYPE OF GOVERNMENT .
" LIBERALISM IS A SICKNESS ~ A MENTAL DISORDER "
" A LIBERAL IS SOMEONE WHO WILL GIVE AWAY EVERYTHING OWNED BY OTHERS "

kentatwater

Please stop typing in all-caps. It's difficult to read, and doing so will give any left winger the excuse to dismiss you on that basis, alone.

trickyblain

"This is a common Marxist misconception – the idea that wealth and power are innately intertwined. In America, everyone’s vote counts the same. "

This is not a Marxist misconception, it's a stark reality. Everyone's vote counts the same — after the canidates spend hundreds fo millions of dollars, given by supporters who give so generously for a reason, to be the nominee. Who was the last impoverished — even middle class — person who held any political power in an elected national office?

Jim_C

Trickyblain–a sane voice breezing through the dark night in a mad world.

Western Canadian

No, just another fart in the wind.

Angel

Like Thomas Sowell said so brilliantly, Obama formulated his political view at a young age and he was not about to let something like the facts confuse him.

SoCalMike

After the 2nd or 3rd time someone leaves you asking yourself "are they stupid or lying?
The actual answer no longer matters.
Republicans think Dems are stupid but we Repubes are stupid, outfoxed and completely outsmarted.

The Dems are the ones who lie. Those among them who don't are the most mindless programmed theocratic robots conditioned to worship the government and a dead white man named Karl Marx whom they regard as their Holy Prophet.
And these poor things are so proud of themselves.

caritas

The foresight of the founders gave us the "natural born citizen" criteria exclusively for president and vice president in order to prevent exactly what is happening now. They wanted to ensure future presidents held allegiance to only the United States. They must be rolling in their graves.

Progressives have successfully marginalized anyone who voices their desire to follow our constitution to the letter of the law. They were smart to label as "birthers" anyone who draws attention to the second amendment. The Alinsky method actually does work for them. Most intelligent conservatives, millions of people, know what is going on here, but are too intimidated to take a stand. Mighty powerful stuff, those Rules For Radicals.